Campers are here!

6-Day Residential Camp, Advance Camp, and Service Teamers have arrived safely to HoneyRock! They are enjoying their first meal, swim test, and are getting ready to be introduced to the activities along with their cabin group before settling in their cabins tonight. Advance Campers are packing up for their wilderness trip tomorrow and Service Teamrs are getting to know their cabins and other Service Teamers.

A quote from a ResCamper today on the bus to camp: "My mommy said I would make friends at HoneyRock and she was right!"

Packing Reminders - DOs and DON'Ts

With the first session of campers arriving in just three short days, it's a good time for a quick refresher on packing DOs and DON'Ts here at HoneyRock. 

First, no matter the session or program, it is very important that female campers remember the following. HoneyRock does not permit spaghetti-strap tank tops or two-piece bathing suits. Even tankinis that cover just as much as a one-piece are not allowed on camp. Shirts that show the stomach, one-shoulder tops, and very short-shorts are also not camp-appropriate and we ask that you leave those at home. Guys, please bring board-short style swimsuits (as in, not Speedos). 

As always, it is a good idea to bring warm clothes (long pants and long-sleeved shirts) for the purpose of layering, even if your session is in July. Mornings and nights can get pretty cold up here in the Northwoods!

Even if you plan on bringing a sleeping bag, a fitted sheet is still recommended for cleanliness and comfort.

And for all campers, please leave your cell phone, iPod, PSP, knives, gum, and personal cash/snacks at home. We're looking forward to spending an awesome summer with you all!  

Phone System Outage

We are currently fixing a problem with our phone system — hang in there! We'll let you know when our phones are back online. Meanwhile, if you need to contact us please email receptionist@honeyrockcamp.org.

SLS Water Safety

During this past week, the SLSers headed off to Antigo Pool to finish up several days of water safety training. Beyond the typical Red Cross Basic Water Rescue course, they also took a HoneyRock-specific Water Safety in the Wilderness class in order to prepare for future overnight wilderness trips with campers! Of course, as leader Scott Eppler said, "We take dips on trips." That means campers only enter water that doesn't go above their waists, for safety reasons. The SLS students learned how to supervise a dip site in just about any situation.

Antigo Pool, a community pool a few hours away from camp, welcomed the SLS students for a few hours of in-water practice as well as access to a waterslide and diving boards. Several students showed off their prowess in diving tricks, and a great time was had by all. 

Eppler said that he was "really encouraged by people's very enthusiastic participation. Not just goofing around, but really taking things seriously." In a place like HoneyRock, a safe trip is a good trip, and our SLSers are definitely ready for some amazing trips with campers! 

WINners Spotlight: Emily Labutta

(WIN stands for Wheaton In the Northwoods, a program that allows Wheaton students to take general education courses over two weeks at HoneyRock.) 

Hometown: Laytonsville, MD
Year: Junior
Major: English Writing/Philosophy 
WIN classes attended: Session 1 - New Testament Lit, Session 2 - Christian Thought 

What past experience have you had with HoneyRock?
I did Wheaton Passage before freshman year, and the cross country skiing class that comes up in the winter.

Favorite in-camp activity?
Kayaking, hands down!

What have been some of your biggest challenges in doing WIN?
Individualism is huge here. It's very easy to go and do your own thing and be okay with that, but it does get really lonely after awhile. So, fighting loneliness has been huge.

Most memorable moments so far: 
Well, the other day I decided to go for a walk in the woods and I was just, like, listening to the wind and the birds and feeling the tall grass around my ankles and it was really just an awesome experience with God. Also kayaking. Kayaking is amazing.

What has HoneyRock's phrase "A Place Apart" meant to you during your time here?
Peace. Being here means being free of, like, all the worry and stress of normalcy, you know? There's no drama here. It's just peaceful.

Pros and cons of taking classes in the Northwoods!
Okay, pros... It gets gen eds out of the way, for one thing. Tuition's cheaper. *laughs* And it's just awesome because everybody in your class is taking only that class and you can really focus on it cause you're not worried about five other classes, you know? It makes for really good discussions too, because it's like, back at school, if you have a really awesome class and you want to process it, you go back to talk to your roommate and have to spend like half an hour on an explanation before you get to the actual cool thing, you know? But here, people were just in that same class with you and you can start talking about it right away. The foundation's already there, you know?

Haha, no cons then?
(She had to think about it.) Well, it wasn't for me, but I guess the outdoors could be a distration. And there can be a really strong sense of it being temporary. Like, we all know we're leaving soon. 

Any advice for people considering WIN?
Come do it! *laughs* No, but seriously. It's good to think seriously about SLS (Summer Leadership School). They take a lot of the same classes, but they get to stay and be counselors for the rest of the summer. But hey, if that's not your thing or you just want the classes, WIN is definitely a good idea. One thing I'd say though is, like, you have to be really purposeful here about taking advantage of activities and stuff, you know? Like, it's really easy to spend four hours in the computer lab, but there's just so much other stuff to do here. Keep your priorities straight, you know? 

Any last words for us?
Come do WIN! It's awesome!  

Preparations and New Arrivals

by Valerie Taylor, Summer Receptionist

Time-lapse video by Ryan Tolbert.

There are only 24 days left until the first campers arrive and here at HoneyRock, we're all busy getting ready. The last few weeks have been full of preparation as the summer staff arrives, settles in, and gets to work! 

In the last two weeks, we have been joined by a group of six Korean students. Many of them are here in the States for the very first time! We've also welcomed our activity staff and they're hard at work in their areas of expertise, doing practice sessions for other staff members in order to get ready for the campers coming soon. Please keep us in your prayers as we grow in community and fellowship with each other!

Wheaton In the Northwoods (WIN) has one more week left in their second session. It's been a blessing to have so many dedicated students here. Hearing their stories over dinner (and the occasional game of BANG!) has been awesome. Pray for focus for them as they study hard and finish this week strong, and for safety as they head back to Wheaton. 

Though it's been unseasonably cold (or maybe it's not unseasonable. I'm not from Wisconsin), the summer has begun and we are super excited to share it with the awesome kids arriving soon. Let the final countdown begin!